H.
Ex.
Prince
Tsitsianov
returned
to
Tiflis,
spent
the
winter
there
andprepared
his
army
for
an
invasion.
The
cause
was
that
H.
Ex.
received
frequent
letters
andapplications
from
Muhammad
Khan,
the
governor
of
Erevan,
reassuring
him,
that
whenever
hereached
there
with
his
forces,
he
would
surrender
him
the
keys
of
the
fortress
and
becomehis
subject.
Although
Muhammad
Khan
was
an
independent
governor,
but
in
his
stateaffairs
he
often
followed
the
counsels
and
considerations
of
Kialba'li
Khan,
thegovernor
of
Nakhichevan,
who
resided
in
Erevan
then.
The
latter
also
wrote
an
application[to
Tsitsianov]
expressing
his
loyalty
and
devotion
[to
Russian
Empire].
Therefore,
PrinceTsitsianov
in
the
spring
of
1804/1220
advanced
with
his
victorious
army
towards
Erevan.
Moving
from
one
station
to
another
he
reached
to
Echmiadzin
(Uch
Kilisa)
and
covered
itsterritory
with
his
fortunate
tents.
The
fame
of
Tsitsianov's
courage
spreadthroughout
the
whole
Qizilbash
country.
He
was
called
"Ishbakhdar",
which
was
aperversion
of
the
word
"Inspektor".
From
Iran
H.
M.
the
Crown
Prince
Abbas
Mirza,
still
a
youth,
wasappointed
the
Commander-in-Chief
of
the
[Persian]
army
and
was
sent
to
unleash
war
againstIshbakhdar
with
a
huge
army
of
170000
warriors.
The
adversaries
met
near
Echmiadzin.
A
fierce
battle
took
place
there,
that
nobody
had
ever
seen
and
heard
of.
(109b)
The
terrible
noise
reached
the
blue
sky.
The
warriors
fought
fiercely,
seizing
the
collar
of
the
Death.
Theyraged
like
a
storm
and
seethed
like
a
furious
swarm
of
bees.
It
was
the
beginning
of
the
war
between
Qizilbashs
and
Russians:
theformers
had
not
yet
seen
the
latters'
fight
and
were
not
afraid
of
them.
SoQizilbashs
fought
bravely,
making
great
efforts.
The
majority
of
their
noble
khans
andyouths
fought
in
the
battle
and
collided
with
the
rows
of
[Russian]
soldiers
cutting
headsand
accomplishing
valiant
deeds.
On
that
day
the
Commander-in-Chief
of
the
Russian
army
divided
hisforces
into
three
regiments.
Qizilbashs
attacked
them
with
such
a
valor
that
the
serenesky
was
dimmed
by
dust
and
smoke
storm.
The
Russian
soldiers
could
not
see
one
another
andeverybody
thought
that
he
was
the
last
to
fight.
H.
Ex.
Commander
was
rushing
here
andthere
like
a
furious
lion
or
a
tiger.
When
the
air
cleared
up
the
Russians
saw
that
theywere
all
safe
and
sound,
whereas
the
Qizilbashs
noticed
that
all
the
dead
bodies
belongedthem,
(110a)
and
the
grass
in
the
field
was
colored
with
their
blood.
They
fell
in
despairand
took
to
flight.
They
even
did
not
dare
to
approach
Erevan.
They
moved
further
to
aplace
called
Kanaker
(Ketiakir)
and
stopped
there.
Prince
Tsitsianov
stayed
there
for
a
time
and
had
his
army
have
a
rest.
Two
days
later
he
again
took
his
troops
and
artillery
and
went
to
chase
them.
In
theevening
they
reached
the
Qizilbash
troops.
The
latter
attempted
to
encircle
the
Russiansand
to
counter-attack.
They
arranged
the
forces
and
artillery
on
both
sides
of
the
road.
Qizilbashs
fought
such
a
battle,
that
the
previous
one
seemed
a
game
compared
with
this.
Nevertheless,
they
were
unable
to
win
and,
finally,
they
were
defeated.
They
left
theirtents
and
supplies,
making
their
escape
to
Iran.
Russians
became
the
owners
of
their
things
and
booty.
After
the
retreatof
the
army
of
Abbas
Mirza,
the
Commander-in-Chief
[Tsitsianov]
came
and
blockadedErevan.
Fath
Ali
Shah
advanced
with
a
huge
army
to
help
and
assist
him.
The
latter,
after
sending
prince
Abbas
Mirza,
recruited
a
great
army
and
hurried
to
hisassistance.
(110b)
On
his
way
he
received
the
news
of
defeat
and
hurried
there.
Theyjoined
at
the
place
called
Davalu,
and,
thence,
came
to
Erevan.
There
they
fought
a
thirdhard
battle,
but,
again,
had
no
success.
Therefore,
they
returned
and
blocked
up
Erevancutting
all
lines
of
supply
for
the
Russians.
Prince
Tsitsianov
completely
occupied
the
gardens
and
suburbs
of
Erevanleaving
only
the
walls
of
the
town
in
the
hands
of
the
Qizilbashs.
The
Russian
armyencircled
the
town,
whereas
the
Qizilbash
troops
immediately
surrounded
them
blocking
uptheir
ways
of
supply
and
communication.
In
consequence,
the
Georgian
princes,
who
had
comethere
with
Tsitsianov,
tried
to
make
their
escape
and
were
captured
by
Qizilbash
troops .
Fath
Ali
Shah
sent
sardar
Pir-qoli
Khan
Qajar
withAlexander
Mirza,
the
Vali
's
son
of
Georgia
to
Tiflis.
[They]
excited
theQazakh
and
Borchallu
tribes
and
incited
a
general
revolt
against
Russian
State.
Only
NasibBeg,
who
had
once
rendered
a
good
service
to
the
Great
[Russian]
State
in
the
battle
forGanje,
thus
proving
his
loyalty
to
it,
refused
to
rebel.
Major
Lisanevich
was
with
him.
The
Shamshaddinlu
[tribe],
the
town
Tiflis,
all
the
other
villages,
and
even
the
sons
of
Vali,
who
had
run
away
to
Bash
Achogh
joined
the
heir
of
Vali.
All
of
them
blew
thetrumpet
of
revolt
and
rose
in
rebellion.
They
rounded
up
several
Russian
soldiers,
who
hadstopped
near
Qara-Kilisa
(111a)
with
its
inhabitants.
After
a
while
Prince
Tsitsianov
realized
that
he
was
unable
to
capturetheir
fortress.
The
army
suffered
food
shortage.
The
prince
sent
Major
Montrezor(Ghandavarov),
known
as
Qara-Major,
with
Rostam
Beg,
the
son
of
Melik
Abov,
his
followers,
and
a
group
of
one
hundred
and
fifty
soldiers,
to
Georgia
to
bring
food
supplies
for
hisarmy.
On
hearing
this
Qizilbashs
chased
them
and
fought
three
days.
Reachingto
Pambak
they
sent
a
message
to
Pir-qoli
Sardar,
who
had
besieged
Qara
Kilisa:
"Itsthree
days
that
we
have
been
fighting
against
them
[the
Russians].
Not
only
they,
but
weare
also
already
tired".
Pir-qoli
Khan
hurried
to
assist
them
and
fought
from
morning
untilsunset.
A
great
number
of
warriors
were
killed
in
both
sides.
Only
when
the
major
waswounded,
the
battle
calmed
down.
The
major
got
three
bullet
wounds
and
died.
His
regimentwas
defeated.
The
soldiers
scattered,
the
Armenians
escaped
and
took
refuge
in
a
nearbycave.
They
fortified
their
positions
there,
but
soon
all
of
them
were
imprisoned.
Pir-qoliKhan
got
back
and
again
besieged
Qara
Kilisa.
The
governor
[of
Tiflis]
sent
a
considerable
amount
of
food-supplieswith
two
hundred
carriages
and
a
few
soldiers
to
the
army
of
Commander-in-Chief.
When
theyreached
Ulu,
the
tribes
living
there
came
and
cut
their
way
intending
to
plunder
them.
The[Russian]
soldiers
had
to
construct
a
fortification
from
their
carriages
and
defendthemselves.
(111b)
In
spite
of
their
great
efforts
[Qizilbashs]
were
unable
to
overcomethem.
They
informed
about
this
Pir-qoli
Khan
Sardar.
The
latter
hastened
to
attack
theRussians.
Although
he
tried
hard,
he
could
not
conquer
their
dyke.
He
fell
in
despair,
because
he
could
not
pursue
his
goal,
and
returned
thence
to
the
foot
of
the
Geghama(Aghlaqan)
Mountains.
When
the
news
spread
in
Tiflis,
its
governor
sent
a
general
with
fourcannons
and
three
hundred
soldiers
to
convey
the
supplies
to
Sardar's
army.
When
thegeneral
in
question
joined
the
previous
regiment,
nobody
dared
to
lay
obstacles
them.
Pir-qoli
Khan
he
went
away
and
supplies
were
completely
delivered
to
Qara
Kilisa.
Whenprince
Tsitsianov
saw
that
supplies
came
and
he
had
not
yet
captured
the
fortress
ofErevan,
and,
besides,
the
epidemic
of
fever
was
spread
in
the
army,
he
moved
from
Erevanto
Qara
Kilisa.
There
he
distributed
the
supplies
to
soldiers.
Pir-qoli
Khan
and
the
sonsof
Vali
were
back
in
complete
despair.
Borchallu
and
other
tribes
of
Georgia,
whohad
betrayed
Russia,
wished
to
move
from
their
homeland
to
Karabagh
from
fright.
MajorLisanevich
learned
this
and
with
Nasib
Beg
tried
to
calm
them
down
with
wise
advices.
Meanwhile,
Sardar
[Tsitsianov]
arrived
in
Georgia
and
summoned
the
chiefs
of
the
tribes
tothe
village
of
Sadaqlu.
He
reproached
them
and
asked
them
what
the
cause
of
their
revoltand
disobedience
to
the
great
[Russian]
state
was.
(112a)
They
got
nothing
to
answer
andstood
in
silence.
They
admitted
their
guilt
and
apologized.
H.
Ex.
Prince
Tsitsianov
was
amerciful
man
and
ordered
them:
"As
the
cause
of
your
deeds
was
your
foolishness,
Iforgive
your
treachery
to
the
great
state.
But
you
must
return
to
their
owners
the
wholewealth
you
have
plundered".
Thence,
he
went
to
Tiflis
and
started
pacifying
the
highland
tribes.
After
settling
them
down,
he
spent
the
winter
there,
and
in
the
spring
made
preparationsto
move
to
Ganje.
